Valve for dry-pipe fire-extinguisher systems.



No. 737,861. PATENTED'SEPT. l, 1903.

F. R. N'OSS.

VALVE FOR DRY PIPE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEMS.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1900.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES INVENTDR w: NGHMS PETERS co, mam-um!) WASHYNCIYON, n cy U NITED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

FRANK R. NOSS, OF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE FOR DRY-PIPE FlRE- EXTINGU'ISHER SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,861, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed April 5, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANKR. Noss, of Rochester, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usef ul Improvement in Valves for Dry-Pipe Fire Extinguisher Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a valve constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, partly broken away.

My invention relates to the class of fire-extinguishing apparatus known as dry-pipe systems, and its object is to cheapen and improve the valve device for controlling the water-supply to the system, to do away with the necessity for more than one valve in such a device, to provide a valve system which will act quickly and positively, and to arrange the parts controlling the valve so that they may be readily reset after acting to open the valve.

In the drawings, I show a service-pipe from the water-supply, having an enlarged chamber 2, this pipe opening into a casing 3. The upper end of the pipe 2 is closed by the valve 4., which is pivoted to a segmental lever or rocker 5, pivoted within the casing at 6. The upper end of this segmental lever, which is of elbow form, is provided with a removable plate 7, the corner or edge portion of which is engaged by a similar plate upon a lever 8. The lever 8 is a loose or floating lever, which is slotted at 9 to receive a pin 10, which issecured in the sides of the casing and acts as'a fulcrum and a loose support for the lever. The rear end of the lever 8 terminates in an annular strap or band within which is held a rotary disk 11, having at one side of its center a slot containing the squared portion 12 of a shaft 13, which extends through packingboxes 14 in the sides of the casing and is arranged to rock. To one projecting end of this shaft is rigidly secured a lever 15, having an adjustable weight 16 thereon. The outer end of this lever 15 is connected by a chain 17 to a segmental or bell-crank lever 18, pivoted to a bracket 19, secured to the casing. The upper end of the lever 18 is engaged by the pointed end portion of a piston-rod 20, the

Serial No. 11,675. (No model.)

piston 21 of which is movable in the motive cylinder 22. The usual compressed-air pipe 23 leads into the cylinder at its opposite end and normally holds the lever 18 in the position shown in Fig. 1 through the contact of thepiston-rod with it.

The lever 8 is held against the upper arm of lever 5 by a yielding pressure consisting of 'a strong spring 24, engaging a projecting stud on the rear of the lever and a similar stud upon a small block 25, having a swivel con nection with a screw-threaded stem 26, provided with hand-wheel 27. The stem 26 extends through a packing-box, and a screwthreaded portion engages similar screwthreads in an outer collar 28, so that by turning the wheel 27 the pressure of the spring may be adjusted. A scale 29 is used with a projecting pointer on the stem 26, so that the pressure may be adjusted as desired. This backing of the lever with a yielding pressure is an important point, as it will cushion the pulsations of the water against the valve 4 and allow a slight movement of the lever 8 without disengaging the parts. An adjustable stop pin 30 engages the rear portion of the lever S and stops it in proper position as the parts are adjusted in place, this pin having a closing-cap, as shown. 31 is a port leading from the casing 3 to the jet-pipe system commonly employed. 32 is a screw-plug closing a hand-hole 33.

The operation of my device is apparent. Whenever the usual fusible plug is melted, the air-pressure beingremoved from the piston 21 the weight 16 will move back the piston, thus releasing its rod from the lever 18. As the released lever 15 swings down the squared portion of the shaft 13 will turn the disk 11,

and as the slot therein is at one side of the center the torsion upon the disk, and the friction between it and the circular recess in the lever will cause this end of the lever to move down. As the lever thus swings on its fulcrum-pin 10 the lever 5 is released and the water fills the casing and flows on through a port 31 to the jet-pipe system. When the fire is extinguished, the parts of the valve system may be easily restored to their normal position,as shown,by removing the screwplug 32 and inserting the hand, and the device is again ready for operation.

The advantages of my invention result from the yielding backing, which allows a pulsation of the water Without injuring the parts of the apparatus.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts Without depart the tripping system arranged to take up pulsations of the Water; substantially as described.

2. In a dry-pipe system, a water-supply pipe, a valve closing it, a lever to which the valve is secured, another lever engaging the valve-lever and connected with tripping system,and a yielding backing for the last-named lever; substantially as described.

3. In a dry-pipe system, a closing-valve secured to a lever, and a swinging lever engaging the valve-lever and movable endwise, and a spring backing for the last-named lever; substantially as described.

4. In a dry-pipe system, a closing-valve secured to the lever, a second lever engaging the valve-lever and having a band surrounding a rotary disk or eccentric, a lever engaging the disk and arranged to turn it, and an air-pressure device arranged to hold the parts in normal position substantially as'described.

5. In a dry-pipe system, a casing containing a closing-valve pivoted to a lever, a second lever engaging the end of the valve-lever within the casing and having an actuating-shaft extending through the casing, a lever connected to the protruding end of the shaft, and a yieldingly-pressed element arranged to hold the shaft of the lever in its normal position; substantially as described.-

6. In a dry-pipe system, a casing containing a lever, a closing-valve pivoted thereto,

a second lever fulcrumed within the casing and having an endwise movement, said lever engaging the valve-lever and having a yielding backing, an actuating-shaft for the second lever, having a weighted lever secured to its protruding end, an exterior lever having a loose connection With the weighted lever, and a pressure-piston engaging the exterior lever; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK R. NOSS. 

